Sentiment not an issue for Jones as he reshapes squad

The Luton chief will announce who is staying and going during the next few days in what he has promised will be a far more streamlined squad going into the new campaign.

Jones isn’t a novice at this side of the job either, having been in a similar position at previous club Brighton before, as he confirmed he wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions for the good of the club.

On the process, he said: “I did it at Brighton, I did it when Oscar Garcia left, he left in May and no contracts had been discussed.

“It’s a difficult time, but part and parcel of being a manager, part and parcel of the decision making process.

“I have to have an element of ruthlessness or I have to lack a little bit of sentimentality at times, because it’s our future, not just my future, the future of the club.

“Now if we handed out certain deals to certain people, then we won’t go forward. We have to go forward and at a good rate, and to do that, tough decision have to be made, I’ve got no problems making those.”

Jones also admitted that plans are already in place in terms of strengthening the squad too, adding: “It’s constantly ongoing, but we’ve started our business in terms of initially speaking to people and so on, agents, and identifying targets, that’s literally been going on since January.

“We started with people like Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Joe Pigott, Johnny Mitchell, we brought in four who we think have contributed and we’re going to continue along that vein.

“I know what we need and I want not to bring in players that are going to improve our squad, but are going to improve our 11.

“I would be surprised if the first four we bring in will not be starters for us for example.

“We want to nail down, want to get the level of quality here that we believe will do well for Luton Town and then we’ll look to improve that constantly as we go on.

“As that’s what it is about, improving the squad constantly from now until the time that we’re no longer here.”